Teleaudiometry as a screening method in school children

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and feasibility of teleaudiometry with that of sweep audiometry in elementary school children, using pure-tone audiometry as the gold standard. METHODS: A total of 243 students with a mean age of 8.3 years participated in the study. Of these, 118 were boys, and 125 were girls. The following procedures were performed: teleaudiometry screening with software that evaluates hearing at frequencies of 1,000, 2000 and 4000 Hz at 25 dBHL; sweep audiometry screening in an acoustic booth (20 dBHL at the same frequencies); pure-tone audiometry thresholds in an acoustic booth (frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz); and acoustic immittance measurements. RESULTS: The diagnostic capacities of the teleaudiometry/sweep audiometry screening methods were as follows: sensitivity  ϝ  58%/65%; specificity  ϝ  86%/99%; positive predictive value  ϝ  51%/91%; negative predictive value  ϝ  89%/92%; and accuracy  ϝ  81%/92%. Teleaudiometry and sweep audiometry showed moderate agreement. Furthermore, the use of these methods in series with immittance testing improved the specificity, whereas parallel testing improved the sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Teleaudiometry was found to be reliable and feasible for screening hearing in school children. Moreover, teleaudiometry is the preferred method for remote areas where specialized personnel and specific equipment are not available, and its use may reduce the costs of hearing screening programs. .

Teleaudiometria como método de triagem em escolares / Teleaudiometry as a screening method in school children

Introdução: Dados epidemiológicos sobre prevalência de perdas auditivas em países em desenvolvimento são insuficientes para o planejamento e execução de programas efetivos, visando à intervenção, prevenção e promoção em saúde. Além disso, ações de saúde na atenção básica, bem como nos serviços de média e alta complexidade não dão conta de atender ou mesmo conhecer a demanda, também pelo fato de existir um número limitado de profissionais da saúde que cuidam da audição. Dentro deste contexto, faz-se necessária a adoção de técnicas ou procedimentos acessíveis às áreas carentes do país, que não contam com recursos financeiros para a aquisição de tecnologia ou recursos humanos que possibilitem a identificação, o mais precoce possível, de grupos de risco para alterações auditivas. Com o avanço da tecnologia, métodos de triagem auditiva à distância são possíveis, inclusive como facilitadores em áreas onde não há especialistas. Sendo assim, a criação e validação de protocolos de teleaudiologia são fundamentais para que possam ser utilizados dentro de programas de saúde rotineiros. Objetivo: avaliar a acurácia e a viabilidade de execução da teleaudiometria, comparando-a à audiometria por varredura, tendo como padrão ouro a audiometria tonal, em escolares do ciclo I do ensino fundamental. Método: Participaram do estudo 243 escolares, sendo 118 meninos e 125 meninas, com idade média de 8,3 anos. Foram realizados os seguintes procedimentos: triagem por teleaudiometria com fones TDH39, com software que avalia a audição automaticamente nas frequências de 1000, 2000 e 4000 Hz a 25 dBNA, triagem por varredura audiométrica em cabina acústica (nas frequências de 1000, 2000 e 4000 Hz a 20 dBNA) e pesquisa dos limiares auditivos por meio de audiometria tonal em cabina acústica (nas frequências de 500, 1000, 2000 e 4000Hz). Resultados: Verificou-se que não existe associação entre os resultados normais e alterados nos testes auditivos e a variável sexo. Das 243...

Introduction: Epidemiological data on the prevalence of hearing loss in developing countries are insufficient for the planning and execution of effective programs, aimed at intervention, prevention and health promotion. In addition, health actions in primary care, as well as secondary and tertiary services are not enough to meet or even know the demand; this also occurs because there is a limited number of health professionals who care for the hearing. Within this context, it is necessary to adopt accessible techniques or procedures for the underserved areas of the country, that do not have financial resources for the purchase of technology or human resources to enable the identification, as early as possible, of risk groups for hearing disorders. With the advance of technology, distance hearing screening methods are possible, working as facilitators in areas where there are no experts. Thus, the creation and validation of teleaudiology protocols are essential so that they can be used in routine health programs. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the teleaudiometry, comparing it to the sweep audiometry, considering pure tone audiometry as the gold standard, in school children of the first cycle in elementary school. Method: 243 students participated in this study, 118 boys and 125 girls, mean age 8.3 years. The following procedures were performed: teleaudiometry screening with TDH39 headphones and software that automatically evaluates hearing at the frequencies of 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz at 25 dBHL, sweep audiometry screening in acoustic booth (at the frequencies of 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz at 20 dBHL) and hearing thresholds search using pure tone audiometry in acoustic booth (at the frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz). Results: It was found that there is no association between normal and abnormal results in hearing tests and the gender variable. Of the 243 children who underwent pure tone audiometry, 195 had normal hearing thresholds...